New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-08
srcprTlPY VHITNEYS METHODS

Secretary Whitney is making the most OF
his English purchases. The two cruisers con
tracted Tor last autumn were designed by Or
William Armstrong & Co, complete plans ana
detailed drawings having been bought abroad.
Tho Newark was designed by American naval
exncrts but inasmuch as the bids exceeded
the limit of cost there was no contract for her
construction This vessel is one Of three
cruisers which the Secretary now offers Tor
the competition of American shipbuilders but
the designs for the engines and machinery
have Ieen altered The Newark, like cruisers
Nos. 4 and 3, is TO have machinery similar TO
that Of the Baltimore, now building by the
Cramps Copies have been made of the Arm
strongs' designs and drawings purchased last
wear and these are incorporated with the pro-
posals for the three new cruisers. The en-
zines and machinery Of every one OF Mr..
Whitney's five cruisers will be reproduced
from English designs. Evidently he has
largo cxpcctations of the success Of his foreign
wares. and has no confidence whatever in the
ability Of American engineers TO design fast
cruisers.
IL is curious to observe how rapidly Secrc-
tary Whitney's faith in his marketable Eng
lish designs has grown. The designs which
ba obtained from Sir William Armstrong s
firm called for 1O,75O indicated horse power.
The Secretary must have had misgivings at
the outset respecting them, for when
he contracted for the Baltimore he scaled down
the requirements for horse power TO max
imum of 5000 and minimum Of 5000. The
Baltimore will be accepted under nominal pen
alties if the horse power be 2,750 below that
indicated by tho designs. and the maximum
reinforcement is 1850 below the Armstrong;
estimate If tho builder, however, succeeds
in developing tho indicated horse power OF
$50 he will receive premiums amounting
TO $4,000. These liberal terms and the
reduction of the requirements for horse power
implied lack of confidence In tho English dc
signs. The Secretary's faith evidently has been
ouiclened since last autumn, for no not only
repeats the Baltimorcs designs for the new
cruiscrs. but calls upon the contractors to guar
antce a maximum speed Of 10 knots. The
Cramps can got off with 5000 horse power
and furnish no guarantee Of speed. The con
tractors for the new vessels are asked TO take
the same designs and to guarantee sreed
which cannot be obtained unless every unit OF
veloped. The premium of $1,000, moreover
is not offered a sccond time.
While Secretary Whitncy's confidence in his
English purchases Is steadily increasing, his
sense Of the necessity for obtaining adequate
guarantees Of the performance Of contractors
work has been seriously impaired. Mr. Roach
bond for the Chicago was 100000, or oo
pcr cent Of the contract price The average
bonds on the four Roach vessels ran above
50 per cent Of the amount OF contract Inc
advertisements issued last autumn By Secretary
Whitney required bonds for 20 per cent. Inc
nrescnt nronosals for new vessels scale down
the bond TO - per cent. The Sccrctary's con
fdencc in the integrity of American ship
builders was not manifested when he was deal
inn with Mr.. Roach Now that he has con
tractors of his own TO look after, his opinion
~ tho trade imprOVcS